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Well, now you can join the ranks of the Jedi, thanks to Star Wars Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast, Aspyr Medias latest action-packed game from LucasArts. You are Rebel Alliance mercenary-for-hire Kyle Katarn, a former Jedi Knight who left the Jedi Order after nearly falling to the Dark Side in battle.
While on a routine mission to the planet Kejim, however, he makes a discovery that eventually leads him to an ancient Jedi Temple on one of Yavins moons, where he seeks out Jedi Master Luke Skywalker for the lightsaber he had placed in his care years before. Katarn assumes the mantle of the Jedi once again, and the last remnants of the Galactic Empire, who still battle the Rebel Alliance for control of the galaxy, had better watch out. The lightsaber battles are pretty intense. The story begins slowly, says Aspyr president Michael Rogers, but it builds up into some epic gaming moments. I like [the fact that] Kyle is a little suspicious of the Rebels, the Empire, and even the nature of the Force, but he still jumps into the fight against evil. You Are a Jedi Knight Jedi Knight II is a 3D action game that shifts between first-person (meaning you see the action through the protagonists eyes) and third-person (you see yourself in the action great for lightsaber action sequences) point of view. The wizards at Raven Software have made a masterpiece using id Softwares Quake III engine, and Westlake Interactive is bringing Jedi Knight II to the Mac and Mac OS X. One wrong move and Katarns mission is over. The game features 24 single-player levels that span 8 environments, including several from the movies. Youll get the opportunity to revisit not only Yavins moon (home of the Rebel base in the first Star Wars film; in one level you can visit the war room where they tracked the progress of the Death Star) but also such familiar locales as Bespins Cloud City. When you see the game, you know that the designers got the look-and-feel of Star Wars just right, says Rogers. It feels like what were used to seeing in the movies: massive rooms, huge outdoor areas, and ships and objects that really get the scale of Star Wars right. Your enemies consist of not only those ubiquitous Stormtroopers but also a motley assortment of aliens and droids. Katarn begins the game equipped only with a standard Imperial-issue blaster, but he can pick up more weapons, including a Wookiee bowcaster, as you explore the game. Later levels bring on plenty of Dark Side enemies, including Shadow Troopers, but by then Katarn has reclaimed his lightsaber and learned several Jedi abilities, so hell be well equipped to handle them. Have Fun With the Force The Force abilities in Jedi Knight II are what really set this game apart from other first-person shooters. As Katarn hones his skills, youll have fun pushing enemies away with a flick of his hand, jumping to avoid their shots, and of course wielding that deadly lightsaber, which you can use to deflect laser blasts as well as cut down opponents. And its always fun to use a mind trick on them and control their actions for a brief period of time. |
Stunning visuals keep you on your Jedi toes. Using the Force powers right really gives me the feeling Id expect from being a Jedi, notes Rogers. A stormtrooper makes a good shield when used properly. The game allows you to switch to a third-person mode whenever you want, which comes in handy when you want to use the lightsaber as it lets you see Katarns entire body and swing the sword with greater precision. Make sure you practice those Force abilities as much as you can, because theyre vital to your success when you reach the games final showdown with a renegade Jedi named Desann. (To learn more about the enemies Katarn will face as well as the weapons and Force powers at his disposal, visit The Jedi Holocron on page two.) Katarn isnt alone in his journey, however: he begins the game with his trusty pilot, Jan Ors, at his side, and later he even gets the opportunity to fight with Luke Skywalker. Lando Calrissian, whose voice was provided by Billy Dee Williams (the actor who played him in the films), also makes an appearance in the game, as does veteran Rebel Alliance leader Mon Mothma. AT-STs and other vehicles of the Empire will make your life
difficult. Multi-player Mayhem Like any good first-person shooter, Jedi Knight II also comes with an extensive multi-player option. You can get online and fight against your friends in one of 15 multi-player maps that require you to take full advantage of the Force. For example, theres a mode called Capture the Ysalamiri in which you must carry the other teams Ysalamiri to your teams home base and win the game. The catch is that these lizard-like creatures cancel out a Jedis ability to use the Force, but they also keep other Jedi from using the Force on whoever is carrying them. Skillful teamwork makes this Capture the flag variant interesting, and the same holds true for the other six multi-player modes. You can have multi-player battles with only the lightsaber and one or two Force powers, explains Rogers. It really changes the pacing and strategies of deathmatch games, and its incredibly cool to see a big fight with all the lightsabers slashing and being thrown all over the room. Whether you enjoy single-player or multi-player action, Jedi Knight II offers hours and hours of action set in that long-ago galaxy. Visit the online Apple Store or send your astromech droid to an Apple retail store or Apple authorized reseller near you for your copy.
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